“O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for
his wonderful works to the children of men.”
— Psalms 107:8
If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God
would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common
mercies-common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that
when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the
eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk
abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise
him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst
the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family
associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything
which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and
yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the
loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s
redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of
their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our
sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our
corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally
plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt
have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the
living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented
before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now
by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair
linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not
unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst
thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your
captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month
begin with new songs.
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